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If you feel like you might get wet brain, it is important to quit drinking right away. Wet brain is a serious condition that can lead to permanent brain damage. Early intervention is essential when you or a loved one is at risk of developing or already has Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Continued misuse of alcohol increases the risk of worsening this condition or developing it again. Additionally, Korsakoff syndrome can lessen a person’s alcohol tolerance, which increases the risk for other health concerns related to alcohol consumption.

Stage 1: Wernicke Encephalopathy

Blood testing can provide key insights into a person’s thiamine levels and other general nutrition. Decreased red blood cell activity could be an indicator of thiamine deficiency. Heart rate, eye movements, body temperature, and even a person’s walk could all signal a doctor to a possible thiamine deficiency. But in affluent countries like the United States, it is most commonly attributed to alcohol abuse, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Remember, the only way of being sure that you do not get wet brain is by stopping drinking alcohol. If you are concerned that you may get wet brain, stop drinking before it is too late.

Treatment may not reduce the symptoms but can prevent them from becoming fatal. Other vitamins and supplements which will help your body more effectively produce and utilize thiamine might also be recommended by your doctor. However, thiamine does little to help with Korsakoff’s psychosis https://ecosoberhouse.com/ as it can’t help to reverse memory loss. Wet brain is a disorder of the brain caused by a chronic thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. It’s also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), named after German neurologist Carl Wernicke and neuropsychiatrist Sergei Korsakoff.

Substance Use Treatment

The first stage of wet brain, Wernicke encephalopathy, can be cured by immediate medical intervention and abstaining from alcohol. A proper diagnosis of wet brain can’t be made for a person with alcohol use disorder until they are in recovery. This is because many symptoms of wet brain are similar to withdrawal symptoms from alcohol.

Recognizing the brain disorder early means that medical treatment can be sought before the disease progresses, preventing life-long complications for some. Yet, many alcohol abusers are unaware of the disease and therefore may fail to seek proper medical treatment. In fact, sometimes wet brain is only detected because an individual chose to seek treatment for their alcohol use disorder and addiction professionals recognized the symptoms. These are not the only benefits of attending rehabilitation for substance use disorders.

Treatment & Services

The Korsakoff’s psychosis stage of WKS is seen as a residual condition that results when brain damage goes untreated. It is possible for non-alcoholics to develop the thiamine deficiency that causes WKS. Long-term alcohol abuse, however, is the most common way this condition begins. “Wet brain” is a term used to describe the chronic brain disorder, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome or Korsakoff’s psychosis.

It is actually two diseases under the term “wet brain syndrome,” with each disease caused by alcohol-related thiamine deficiency. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) reports that nearly 15 million people in the United States have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). The damaged liver can cause other complications in the body since it is a vital organ. The liver is responsible for over 500 tasks to ensure the body is functioning as healthy as possible. Other health complications, like heart problems and stroke, stem from chronic alcohol abuse in end-stage alcoholism. Because heavy alcohol abuse is a key cause of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, to recover and prevent the disorder from worsening, it is important to stop heavy alcohol use.

This condition is separate from Korsakoff syndrome, although the two are closely linked and usually considered different phases of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Wernicke encephalopathy presents as the early symptoms of wet brain mentioned above, and it’s an acute, short-lived condition. If you recognize any of those early symptoms in a loved one who struggles with alcohol addiction, help them seek immediate treatment.

• Other health complications, like heart problems and stroke, stem from chronic alcohol abuse in end-stage alcoholism.
• The informal name wet brain was coined due to the strong association between WKS and the chronic abuse of alcohol.
• These can include memory problems, dementia, difficulty learning new information, confabulation (making up stories to fill in the gaps in memory) and amnesia.
• Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site.
• The first step in treating wet brain syndrome is to seek immediate medical attention.